Northwave Clan and Tribe: their first models with flat outsole

Published by Mountainblog on 05/09/2019.

You can be content with being one of many or crave to stand out. You can stay in the wake or call for your trajectories. When Northwave faces a new challenge, it does it in its own way. For this reason, during the last edition of Eurobikethey presented their first models with a flat outsole: Clanand Tribe.

The exclusive Northwave’s Flat Specific Sole System makes it debut on Clan, the most performing flat model launched by the Italian company in 2019. Clan was built to perform, and to be enjoyed flat out: that’s why Northwave realized abrasion-resistant welded upper, with large breathable mesh inserts to face even the hottest days and placed welded TPU reinforcements on the toe and heel for impact protection. The mesh tongue with customized padding combines protection and breathability, whilst the closure can be adjusted through non-stretch laces, easily stowed in the elasticated keeper. The Gravity FPS outsole, co-developed with Soles by Michelin, is realized with a compound for extreme stickiness and grip, keeping adherence on wet and slippery surfaces while still ensuring good durability. The tread design, inspired to Michelin’s Jet XCR tire, succeeds in providing maximum grip on pedals, with an extensive flat area with specific cuts, and control on different terrains, thanks to the strong sculptures on the tip – for progressive traction – and heel area – for braking and durability.

Tribe is the other flat model launched by Northwave in the 2019 season. Even a first look suggests that Tribe winks to passionate riders as well as those who are maybe less technical, but certainly attentive to the stylish and fashionable side of cycling. The suede upper with large mesh inserts makes the shoes light and breathable, whilst protection is ensured by the reinforcements with abrasion-resistant rubber prints on the toe and heel and a reinforced toecap, as well as the mesh tongue with customized padding. The non-stretch laces are easily stowed in the elasticated keeper. The Gravity outsole, co-developed with Soles by Michelin, also inspired by Michelin’s Jet XCR tire. The sole’s tread is meant to deliver stability – with the reinforced shoulders -, flexibility and adherence in the medial part, and control in the tip and heel area, with deeper sculptures for traction and braking power.

For over 100 years, drivers of two and four-wheeled vehicles entrusted Michelin for safe driving on all terrains and weather conditions. In 2014, the choice to bring this ground contact experience in the world of technical soles came naturally. Since that date, the MICHELIN Soles is a protagonist in the world of design and production of technical soles with a precise mission: to provide each shoe with an exclusive and co-designed sole with brand partners to obtain the best performance ever. Virtuous collaborations in which values, objectives and knowledge are shared for the development of a product capable of bringing real innovation and tangible advantages to the final consumer, in different segments of the footwear market.
MICHELIN Soles operates in over 12 segments: from outdoor to active sports, from running to winter sports, from work & safety to kids world. Tires and shoes share the same vocabulary: footprint, sole, tread, rolled, stability, rubber and fabric. It is here that Michelin comes into play by sharing its knowledge and technological innovations with JV International, the global strategic partner chosen for the design, development and production of high-performance MICHELIN soles.